Signal device



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,827 H. E. SIPE I swam. mavxcn Filed Dec. 1. 1927 lNVENTOR 552 /5 5a'pe ALTTORN% UNITED STATES P E yo c Patented Dec.- 18,1928.

HARRY n. srrn, or NEWIYOBK, 1v. Y..

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed December actuate levers or release a tensionally actuated device, said operating member being preferably bimetallic and of such structure as to be sensitive to operation when exposed to predetermined degrees of heat; a further object being to provide means mounted with-' in the'c'ap of the radiator for supporting the operating member and the signal device to permit of. the movement thereof; and with 1 these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in con' struction, efficient in use, and which is constructed ashereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement aredesignated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a cap showing one method of carrying myinvention into effect. 7 1 I Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 with the parts in a dilferent position, 'thesection being at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 1 but show ing a modification.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 but showing another modification. M

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55"of Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 but showing another modification; and,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts in a different position.

In Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing, I'have shown at 10, the cap of a radiator of a motor vehicle, which inthe construction shown is internally threaded at 11 for mountlng 1n connection with the threaded extensionof theradiator. Mounted in the upper end portion of the cap is a sleeve 12 which is provided on its inner wall with a ring or head 13; Mounted v j inoperative position by hand.

1, 1927. Serial No. 236,954.

in this ring or head and extending centrally and transversely through the chamber within the cap which is exposedto the chamber of the radiator, is a bimetallic'strip 14 capable of upward flexing as seen in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing when subjected to predetermined degrees of heat. The central portion of the bimetallic strip 1 f isprovided with an up-- standing pin or finger 15 whichis adapted to operate in connection with a flexible or rubber cap 16, mounted centrally of th'ecajp 10 and in the top wall thereof. When the bimetallic.

strip 14- fiexes upwardly, the pin 15 is correspondingly moved upwardly, and raises the flexible wall-of the cap 163,. and releases the signal element 17 which is moved into vertical or upright position by a spring 18 supported in connection therewith,the free end of'the strip cooperating with the pivot, 17 of the element 17 to retain the same in depressed'position', but when raised slightly, the spring will function to throw the-element 17 into vertical position and to support the same in such position until it'has been returnedto The pivot 17 a is formed by a pin which passes through the element 17 and lugslO on the top wall of the cap 10. 1 H I I In Fig. 3 ofthe drawing, 1 have shown a slight modification ofthe structure shown in Figs. land 2 whereinv a cap 19 is provided with a sleeve 20 adjacent the upper end thereof, and mounted within the chamber of said cap. This sleeve supports a bimetallic arm 21 having a flexible end 21 formed by a loop '21 in said arm. Supported in connection with and movable relatively to the end portion of the flexible end 21 is a signal element 22 in the form of a pin or bar, movable upwardly through a ring or washer 23 mounted in the top wall of the cap 19, the washer being preferably composed of resilient material to form a seal betweenthe same and the pin 22. The

pin or signal element'22 is provided with a;

colored section 22 normally contained Within the boundaries of the cap 19, and inthe action 7 I of the flexing end 21 of the bimetallic arm 21 is extended beyond the cap to indicate the presence of excess heat Within the chamber of the radiator which is exposed to the chamber of the capin which the bimetallic ELIl'll'lS mounted. Vith this construction, the cooling of the temperature within the radiator will automatically return the pin or signal element 22 to its inoperative'position.

In Fig. 4' of the drawing, I haveshown a cap 24 in which is mounted a ring 25 which supports a bimetallic signal actuating member 26 in the form of a spiral member one end of which is secured to the sleeve 25 as shown at 26 and the other end of which terminates centrally or the cap Ql and is secured to the existence er excess heat within the chamber of the radiator, it being'understoed that as the bimetallic member, in the "form of a spiral v is exposed to heat, the rod 27 and signal 28 is rotated within the cap, and the degree this rotationmay be governed by the structure of the bimetallic member and the number of coils in the spiral, andthe signal element may be rotated a quarter or a halt revolution as may be desired.

In, and 7 of the drawing, 1 have shown another form of construction employ ing a cap which has at its upper end, a dome portion 31, in the opposite side walls of which are pivotally mounted as seen atBl, levers 32, the outer end portions of which may be characterized! in any desired manner to give ornamental appearance thereto. The inner ends of said levers are pivoted and slidably coupled as seen at 38, to the crosshead 34- ot a sliding rod 35 which passes through a packing and guiding ring 36 mounted in a cup-shaped member 37 which is supported in the upper end portion of the cap 30. Supported in connection with said cupshaped member is a bimetallic operating elen'ient 38 having a freely flexing end portion 38 formed by a loop 38 in said element, and contrasting to the/ structure shown inFigfZ-l of the drawing,the flexing end 38 moves downwardly when subjected to predetermined degrees of heat instead of upwardly as'with the flexing end 21 of the arm 21. In this domiward movement, the crosshead 34 is also moved downwardly with the pin 35 and the protruding ends or the levers-32 are raised from the position'shown in Fig. Got the drawing to the position shown in Fig. or the drawing to indicate to the operator of the vehicle an excess degree of heat exists in the radiator.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that in all forms of construction, the bimetallic element, regardless of the character or con tour thereof, when subjectedto heat beyond a predetermined degree, is actuated to in'ipart movement to a'signal device, and this movement may be sliding or rotary as the case may be, and such sliding or rotary movement may be transmitted directly or indirectly to the signal device, per se. As will be apparent, the bimetallic element or member employed may be also automatically operated to return the signal elements to inoperative position in Figs. 3, 4e and 6 of the drawing, or the signal device may be returned to inoperative position by hand as in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

With my improved construction, it will be understood that I provide a very simple and yet positively functioning means for indicatingtothe operator of the vehicle, when an engine has become overheated by virtue ot t heflexistenceoi excess heat inthe radiator of the engine. Whi'lel have shownfand described one primary method of carrying my invention int-o etl'ect, and one specific use or application thereof, it will be understood that, T am not necessarily limited in this respect,as thesignal device and the bimetallic element for actuating the same maybe employed in connection with other appara tus, and as a matterof fact, the device ma 7 be employed to indicate, by virtueof the danger signal or the movement of a signal into pr deteunin'ed position, both the increase or decrease of temperatures in action upon a bimetallic element or the equivalent of such an element, and various other changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within chamber in aplane transversing the axis or" said cap and actuated by the temperature concitions existing in the chamber of the diator and extending intothe chamber of said cap, a si nal element in operative connection with said bimetallic men'iber where by when said member isezrposed to preoe termined degrees 01" heat, said signal element will be moved into operative position, the coupling of said element with member being such to automatically return the signal element into inoperative position when the temperature in said chambers is lowered, said signal element involving amember slidably engaging said radiator cap and means for forming a seal around said sliding niemher, said bimetallic member"constituting a striplihe body, and means involving a tube inserted into thecap forsupporting one: end of said striplike body. l I Q j 2. A signal device for radiator caps, said cap 'havinga chamber opening into if the chamber. of the radiator and said devicecomprising a bimetallic 1 member arranged in said chamberfin planetransversing the axis ofsaid cap and a'c'tuated'by the temperature conditions existing in the chamber of the radiator and extending into the chamber ill) ing a strip-like body, means involving a tube inserted into the cap for supporting one end of the strip-like body and the other end portion of said body being curve 3. A signal device for radiator caps, said cap having a chamber opening into the chamber of the radiator and said device comprising a bimetallic member arranged in said chamber in a plane transversing the axis of said cap and actuated by the temperature cond1t1ons existing 1n the chamber of the radiator and extending into the chamber of said I cap, a signal element in operative connection with said bimetallic member whereby when said member is exposed to predeteri'nined degrees of heat, said signal element will be moved into operative position, the coupling of said element With said member being such as to automatically return the signal element into inoperative position when the temperature in said chambers is lowered, said signal element involving amember slidablyengaging said radiator cap and means for forming a seal around said sliding member, said bimetallic member constituting a strip-like body, means involving a tube inserted into the cap for supporting one end of the striplilre body, the other end portion of said body bein curved, and the sliding member of said element being supported on the last named end of said body. r 7

4:. A signal device for radiator caps, said cap having a chamber opening into the chamber of'the radiator and said device comprisk mg a bimetallic member arranged in said chamber in a plane transversing the axis of said cap and actuated by the temperature conditions existing in the chamber of the radiator and extending into the chamber of said cap, a signal element in operative connection with said bimetallic member whereby when said member is, exposed to predetermined degrees of heat, said signal element will be moved into operative position, the coupling of said element with said member be ing such as to automatically return the signal element into inoperatlve position when the temperature in'said chambers is lowered, said signal element involving a member slidably engaging saidradiator cap and means for forming a seal around said sliding member, said bimetallic member constituting a striplike body, means involving a tube inserted into the cap for supporting one end of the strip-like body and the other end portion of said body being curved, the sliding member I of said element being supported on the last named end of said body, and said signal ele- 'ment involving members movably supported in connection with said sliding member.

5. The combination with a radiator cap of y a signal device comprising a tube mounted to fit'snugly in the bore of the cap, a bimetallic member in the form of a strip-like body, one end of which is secured to the wall of said tube and is arranged transversely of the axis of said tube, and a signal element supported in connection with the other end of said striplike body and movable relatively to the upper wall of said radiator cap in the action of said bimetallic member.

6. The combination with a radiator cap of a signal device comprising a tube mounted to fit snugly in the bore of the cap, a bimetallic member in the form of a strip-like body, one

end of which is secured'to the wall of said tube and is arranged transversely of the axis of said tube, a signal element supported in connection with the other end of said striplike body and movable relatively to the upper wall of said radiator cap in the action of said bimetallic member, and the last named end portion of said bimetallic member being curved.

7. The combination with a radiator cap oi? a signal device comprising a tube mounted to fit snugly inthe bore of the cap, a bimetallicmember in 'the form of a strip-like body, one end of which is secured to the wall of said tube and is arranged transversely of the axis of said tube, a signal element'supported in connection withthe other end of said striplike body and movable relatively. to the upper wall of said radiator cap in the actionof said bimetallic member, the last named end portion of said bimetallic member being curved, and means for forming a seal between the signal element and the wall of said cap.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ,my invention I have signed my name this 28th day of, November, 192

a HARRY E. SIPE. 

